FTSE 100 news / Companies and sectors / Consumer staples / 20 October 2026
Consumer staples: sector news on Tuesday 20 October 2026
Average tone +0.9 (neutral) across 7 companies with relevant coverage, from 61 stories.
Company by company
| Company | Tone | Stories | What the coverage was about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever | +1.3 | 30 | Coverage was dominated by the sale of the Welly bandage brand to Forward Consumer Partners, seen as part of an ongoing portfolio reset. |
| Diageo | −5.7 | 11 | Coverage was dominated by reports that India is probing Diageo and Pernod Ricard over Scotch imports under the India-UK trade pact, alongside an apology and an investigation over pollution in a Moray burn. |
| Imperial Brands | −7.8 | 9 | Coverage was dominated by Jefferies downgrading Imperial Brands to hold and cutting its price target from GBP35 to GBP27, with German tobacco tax rises cited. |
| British American Tobacco | +2.0 | 5 | Coverage was mixed: Jefferies raised its price target and a buyback was launched, but there were worries about another generational tobacco ban in Europe and claims that tobacco firms exaggerate the illegal market. |
| Coca-Cola HBC | +4.5 | 4 | Coverage was mainly positive commentary on revenue growth, African expansion and past investor returns. |
| Associated British Foods | +3.0 | 1 | Coverage was thin, with only a lifestyle piece on a Primark autumn knitwear outfit. |
| Reckitt | +8.7 | 1 | The only relevant coverage said Reckitt had accelerated its sales and launched a share buyback. |
| Coca-Cola Europacific Partners | – | 0 |
Strongest stories in the sector
- −9.3 Jefferies cuts Imperial Brands to hold as German tax hikes threaten growth outlook
Downgrade as German tax hikes threaten growth outlook. - +9.2 BAT stock: Jefferies raises target for BAT stock to GBp 5,600.00 - ad-hoc-news.de
Jefferies raises price target for BAT - −9.2 Imperial Brands Downgraded by Jefferies as German Tobacco Tax Rises Loom
Jefferies downgrade citing German tobacco tax rises. - −9.2 Jefferies Downgrades Imperial Brands to Hold, Cuts PT
Downgrade to Hold with a lower price target. - −8.7 Jefferies cuts Imperial Brands to 'hold'
Jefferies cut rating to hold. - +8.7 Reckitt Benckiser accelerates sales and launches buyback: Can RKT sustain momentum?
Accelerating sales and a new buyback are positive. - −8.3 Diageo under investigation for toxic spill
Investigation over toxic spill brings legal and reputational risk. - −8.3 Imperial Brands downgrades as German cigarette prices look set to rise
Downgrade as German cigarette prices set to rise. - −8.3 Jefferies' downgrade makes Imperial Brands cough
Jefferies downgrade hits Imperial shares. - −8.3 Imperial Brands Target Cut to GBP27 From GBP35 by Jefferies
Price target cut from GBP35 to GBP27. - −7.5 Drinks giant Diageo apologises after Moray burn pollution
Apology over Moray burn pollution damages reputation. - −7.0 EXCLUSIVE: India probing Pernod, Diageo Scotch imports under India-UK trade pact, sources say
Reuters exclusive on Indian probe into Diageo Scotch imports.